JC Cellars

Jeff Cohn, the "JC", winemaker and president of JC Cellars, possesses an extensive background in both wine and food. He received his associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute in Providence, Rhode Island in 1982, and a bachelor of science in hospitality management form Florida International University in Miami in 1984. After university, Jeff worked in several high profile positions in the hospitality industry, including manager for Sutton Place Gourmet in Washington, DC, and food and beverage director for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises in Miami.

DirectionsFROM SAN FRANCISCO: * Take Highway 80 East over Bay Bridge. * Stay to right and follow signs to Highway 880 South towards San Jose.
* Exit at the Broadway/Alameda exit; turn right at the bottom of offramp onto 5th St.
* Proceed down 5th St. and turn right on Broadway.
* Make an immediate left onto 4th St. and proceed down 4th until it dead-ends on Oak St. (you will see a brick "Cash and Carry" store in front of you).
* Turn left and then an immediate right onto the extension of 4th St.
* Winery is at end of block on the corner of 4th and Fallon St.
Visiting Us
About Us
Our Vineyards
Winemaking Philosophy
Visiting Us
The JC Cellars Tasting Room is open Thursday - Monday from Noon until 6pm.
Winery Location
55 4th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone 510-465-5900
Fax 510-465-5901
Email wine@jccellars.com
VISITING VIA BART
* Exit at the Lake Merritt Station.
* Proceed on Oak Street from 8th four blocks West to 4th Street.
* Make a left on 4th Street and we are at the end of the block at Fallon Street.
VISITING VIA THE FERRY | Ferry Schedule
* Take the Alameda/Oakland Ferry from Pier 39 or the Ferry Building in SF
* A nice 15 minute walk from Jack London Square to JC Cellars.
* Exit ferry at Oakland's Jack London Square.
* Turn right to head south through Jack London Square shops.
* At the wolf statue, turn left out of the shop development and continue south on Embarcadero to Oak Street.
* Turn left on Oak Street, continue on Oak to 4th Street, turn right on 4th Street.
* We are at the end of the block at the corner of 4th and Fallon Streets.
Driving Directions
FROM SAN FRANCISCO
* Take Highway 80 East over Bay Bridge.
* Stay to right and follow signs to Highway 880 South towards San Jose.
* Exit at the Broadway/Alameda exit; turn right at the bottom of offramp onto 5th St.
* Proceed down 5th St. and turn ri

Every year at JC Cellars we are looking for new and exciting Syrah vineyards. Many of these new vineyards are so small that it makes for the perfect addition for our A La Cave program. This big, full-throttle wine contains loads of extracted blueberries and black cherries with an elegant, spicy finish. A touch of oak helps to round out and complete the finish.

Even though this vineyard was only planted in 1996, its gives the flavor profile of an "old vines Zinfandel" vineyard. It contains a sweet, concentrated briery fruit component of cherries and raspberries. This is complimented by a spicy, peppery finish. Not a wine I would call varietally correct since in blind tastings it's commonly mistaken for a Syrah. The volcanic rock soil, Cooke clone, organic farming, and cropping at one ton per acre combine to give this vineyard its "old vine" effect.

Anisette, black currants, and Black Licorice stick all wrapped into one. Briery notes of roasted Herbs de Provence in a cherry-raspberry Liqueur chocolate that is sprinkled with freshly cracked red and black pepper flow with an unending abandoned. Deep in color, almost black as the obis. An intensity that is so pure and unyielding that each smell, each taste, sets your mind on a journey of unequalled proportions.

Always a new experience every year for us at JC Cellars, it's a chance to take wines we have produced and nurtured along the way and produce not just a wine, but a experience that represents the many aromatics and flavors of the different AVAs of California. This year’s blend has become my favorite so far. Gushing over with all kinds of blackberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with some minerality. A touch of smoke and a hint of peach skin from the Viognier that makes this wine just a little more then intriguing.

Layers upon layers of aromatics, textures and flavors that seem to flow from the beginning to the end and back to the beginning again. We have been producing wine from these vineyards since 1997 and with each year the fruit just seems to get better and more complex. With that said, the 2005 vintage has gone further then any other Fess Parker has gone. The black fruits are darker; the red fruit brighter, the mid-palate is almost a diving board to a finish that just seems to go on and on. The essence of Central coast Syrah.

In 2003, the Rhône Valley had one of its hottest vintages ever and as a result offered some of the most outrageously intense wines I have ever tasted. Even though the crops were very low (about one quarter the normal amount), Pierre was still game to part with some of his precious wine. We began shipping each other samples, putting together blends and communicating by phone. In the end we decided that my Rockpile Syrah was the perfect dancing partner for Pierre's Cote Rozier from Cote Rôtie. The combination has produced an amazing wine.

The opportunity for a winemaker to produce a wine from a grape varietal that has fascinated him for such a long time is one thing. To try and produce a wine that has the characteristics of the great wines of such amazing wineries such as Chave, Chapoutier, and Domaine Des Remizieres to name a few, from the majestic Hermitage is another feat. We are very fortunate to have found a Marsanne vineyard planted in very well drained rocky soil that lends itself to producing wines with a very nice mineral component that is the backbone to this incredible lush and decadent wine.

This lush exotic example of Viognier was harvested at 36 degrees Brix with just a hint of noble rot. The bouquet is reminiscent of ripe apricots with hints of peaches and honey. It has a long, smooth tropical aftertaste and is a perfect dessert all by itself. Residual sugar is 16.5% by weight.

This is the most powerful and intense wine to come from Rockpile Vineyard to date. We are now onto our fourth vintage of producing Syrah from this vineyard, with this being our lowest tonnage per acre yet. Red and black fruits, with a mineral backbone are the hallmarks of this wine and this up-and-coming appellation. A wine of great depth and concentration, Rockpile Vineyard Syrah exhibits extracted fruit character, spice box, wet stone, and smoky notes followed by JC Cellars signature supple mouthfeel.

The 2005 First Date made up of 75% Roussanne and 25% Marsanne is a sultry dance between these varietals that will leave you wanting for more. White wine is always served first, it sets the tone and emotions of the engagement. The first date is always a special time. It's the start of something special, your heart pounds; the spark of a new romance. You never know unless you go on that first date.

Roasted earth, crème de cassis, black cherry liqueur, layered with plume pudding, dark chocolate, marjoram, tarragon, smoked venison, and the list can go on and on and on! Without a doubt this is the most exotic and mysterious wine we have ever produced. You feel the wine is going in one direction and all of a sudden it’s going in another. So layered and texture, you may not want to put the glass down. A blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Mourvedre and Viognier.

Ventana Vineyards are located just south west of Salinas in Monterey County. This vineyard is unique in that the syrah vines are planted on their own rootstock, not grafted. The sandy soils prevent the development of the phylloxera bug, a root louse that likes to feed on the susceptible roots of vinifera vines. We believe that allowing the Syrah to be on its own rootstock provides a more true expression of the variety and the vineyard.
Historically, the Ventana Syrah is always the last fruit to come in at harvest. The cool climate allows for more "hang time"; giving the fruit more time to mature and gain complexity without having it become overripe.